Chilliwack Hospital gets new bladder scanner for maternity unit after generous grant

CHILLIWACK — Moms and babies at the Chilliwack General Hospital may now be able to receive better post-birth care with help from a national charity.

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation has provided a $20,000 through the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation (FVHCF) for the purchase of a bladder scanner at the hospital’s maternity unit.

“The addition of a bladder scanner […] has had a meaningful impact on the care we provide to our maternal community,” said Liz Harris, FVHCF executive director. 

“This technology allows care teams to quickly and non-invasively assess bladder volume, which is especially important in the postpartum period when urinary retention can be common yet difficult to detect.”

Fraser Health staff member poses with bladder scanner in CGH Maternity Unit. (Image Credit: FVHCF / Supplied)

The equipment helps avoid the need for invasive tools like catheters by identifying potential complications and reducing discomfort, especially postpartum, when urinary retention can be hard to spot.

“This investment strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to mothers during a critical time in their lives, directly benefiting both patients and the care teams who support them,” added Vanessa Wice, clinical operations manager at the Chilliwack Hospital’s maternity department.

Sandra Schmirler was a three-time Canadian and World Curling Champion and Olympic gold medalist – and a mother of two. She lost her life to cancer in 2000, and the Foundation has since kept her legacy alive through the purchase of life-saving equipment for premature and critically ill babies in Canada.